Akiyoshi to replace Haslam at Monza WSBK round

Akiyoshi with at Suzuka with team-mate Rea and team manager Tady Okada
Picture: Honda Racing

Pata Honda will wheel in two-time All-Japan Superbike Champion Kosuke Akiyoshi to stand in for the injured Leon Haslam at next weekend’s Monza World Superbike round.

Haslam is at home recovering from an operation to pin the leg he broke at Assen and will miss the Italian round, but the gritty Derbsyshire man has targeted Donington as his race to be back.

I’ve just been chilling since I got out of hospital, really. I saw my physiotherapist on Thursday and we’re getting a plan together but we need to wait for the swelling to go down before we can get to work," said Haslam.

"I’m back to see the doctor next week and get the staples out of the leg – then I can start some pool work, too. It’s a shame to be missing Monza, but the following race at Donington Park is my target to come back. It will be good to get Akiyoshi on the bike next week though. His feedback will be useful and Monza shouldn’t be too difficult for him to learn."